M&S supplier in switch to Africa

Friday 8 February 2002 00:00 BST

NEARLY 400 jobs are to be lost by a clothing supplier of Marks & Spencer and a further 45 are under threat. The Dewhirst company is to shed 390 jobs from its Sunderland plant with the potential for further losses at the Ashington plant in Northumberland, claiming the company will use cheaper North African labour instead.

In a statement, the Dewhirst group blamed the job losses on pressure from consumers to drive down prices. It stated: 'This is a direct result of the continued consumer pressure on prices that has led to insufficient profitable business being available to maintain our UK manufacturing at current levels.'

The GMB union criticised the company, which makes ladies' suits at its Leechmere factory in Sunderland, for 'pursuing a cheaper labour option in Morocco.'

Regional organiser Val Scott said: 'GMB members in this industry have worked extremely hard to be competitive in this region, there is flexibility, many working practices have changed and they have shown real commitment to the industry in the north east.

'However the company has not matched this commitment and is pursuing a cheaper labour option in Morocco.

'Dewhirsts are blaming Marks & Spencer, and they share the blame, but this company have failed to win other customers and they are letting these workers down badly and are failing the people of the North East.'

No-one was available for comment at either the Ashington or Sunderland factories and workers, who were told of the job losses this morning, were sent home for the day.